Good honest review of a weird bike. I bought mine with very low miles like yours, however my bike is the deluxe model which I think makes a big difference. My dislikes are no gear indicator, clunky saddlebags, annoying water pump /engine sound, no cruise control, no platforms just pegs. My likes are comfortable ride, great brakes , decent power and stereo. I do like the seating position. I also got a good deal on mine used but you are absolutely correct 17.5k is a ripoff, so the bike failed. Oh well it's kinda nice having the only one around
enjoyed the video. Love my CTX and all I might add if you are shopping for one of these is to consider the Deluxe version as there are more Tech goodies like the self cancelling turn signals, bluetooth audio and the main reason I got the deluxe was for the linked ABS brakes. I won't buy another bike without ABS. Added cruise to mine and it's just darn near the perfect tourer for me.
Thanks Kyle Weber! This is one of the best reviews I have seen on RUclips about the Honda CTX 1300. I had two Honda bikes and I think that you can’t go wrong with a Honda motorcycle or car.
Thanks for the feedback Omar! This is one of my first videos so they will greatly improve over time, but i'm glad you like it! I am a big fan of honda but even they make mistakes sometimes.
The CTX was put in play after Honda ditched the ST1300. Let’s be honest here, the CTX is the ST, they just removed 10% of the bike and gave it a new name. The term is called shrinkflation. Pretty soon it will be a stripped down moped.
I have the ctx700. I love its low reving engine (at age 40+ im past my race days) and its sound. Its very smooth. The ride is pretty good. Its balanced well. My wife and I max out its capacity so that is why I was looking at the 1300 but I really prefer lighter bikes. The main problem I have been chasing on the 700 is my helmet feeling like its in a paint shaker. It came with the honda tall windshield. Then I put an aftermarket taller one on and added an extension. Right now if I duck about 1 -2 inches its smooth (I'm 6ft tall) but otherwise it gives me a headache and can blurr your vision at 65. I've got a taller madstad coming in to try out so hopefully it works better. I can tell by your video the 1300 wouldn't work for me because of that high pitched whine that the engine makes. That would bug me. Thanks for the video!
I had that helmet shaking problem too, I tried a few things then finally got pissed off enough to buy the 1300. My wife got her class M and she rides the bike now, she says that her helmet doesn't shake and she's fine so she must be short enough so her head is below the turbulence. Hopefully your problem will be solved when you install the madstad shield, they are the best.
I ride the CTX 700n DCT, DCT is great.Easiest motorcycle I have ever owned, and I've owned a bunch in my day. Wish I would have got the fairing model. Running the tall Madstad now. Works pretty good for me. After my daughter graduated Nursing school, I decided to get another bike. Bought a cheap 83 cm450a. 2 speed semi auto trans. Just to get my feet wet . I like it, still have it. But thought I wanted something bigger, Friends with Gold Wings, said, "get a Wing and you'll love it". So I did. 97 GL1500 SE. Nice pretty machine. One problem, I just don't like riding it. Other than that , it's great. For sale now. Have now owned the CTX for over a year now. Think I'll be riding it for for a long while. So, that is my return journey back onto 2 wheels.
There are some handlebar covers you can buy that will make the accelerator less sensitive, it is so sensitive because it is so small, which makes it difficult to control.
I have the 700 and i have been looking at the 1300 also. This will be my first summer touring on it so i have not formed that opinion about the 700 yet from that aspect. But thank you for the video, it shedded some light on my next bike.👍🏾
i owned an st1300 which i loved but it was just a couple of inches too tall for me to handle at stops on uneven pavement and so i sold it. looking at the ctx1300 which i can flatfoot. one question, on long trips on hot days there was a ton of engine heat on me. does the ctx1300 have this issue as well? my st1300 was fixed with some modified goldwing air deflectors mounted in the right place to deflect air on to my legs and waist. i left them on the st when i sold it. the video was really good. there are surprisingly few ctx 1300 videos on RUclips. one i like sold his ctx because of a lack of after market fix up items. ride safely and stay healthy.
Great review. I’ve got the Deluxe up here in Toronto. Would like to get some crash bars and highway pegs for it. Not sure where to find them. The grip puppies are a great idea. Hopefully they won’t affect the heated grips. The top box and the fog lights are way too expensive for a bike that’s been discontinued. Contemplating the Corbin seat. Any idea why it has the high pitched whining sound? Just noticed the snow on the ground in your video. I had my heart set on a FjR but couldn’t afford it.
I'm intrigued by this bike. Kinda like a mini Goldwing... I'm curious if progressive front springs are available for this bike and how much they'd help the front end. ??? I'll keep doing my homework. Thanks for the video! I'm hoping to come across one of these for the right price.
@@kyleweber4543 Progressive(the brand) makes front springs for just about anything. I put them in my shadow and they did wonders. Usually cost about $100 or so to purchase. I put them in myself. Not sure how difficult it would be on that bike.
I got the deluxe version, with all options, center stand etc... it's a beutiful modern looking bike.I bought it in 2016 used, for 10.000. I don't like the fact that there is no 6th gear and no cruise control. It's got plenty of power for me !.
I really enjoy my bike, most of that joy comes from not paying much for it and being able to ride it anywhere without worrying about it. I know that other people were able to add cruise control to their ctx1300, maybe that's something you could consider?
It is strange really that is doesn't have DCT or there was no DCT option with this model. It weighs about 60 kg heavier than my BMW 1150 GS , but has the same torque as the BMW but less power although both of these are lower in the rev range, with power peaking at 6000 rpm where as on the BMW it is 7500. It looks as though it would go for ever though, and I am sure it is designed with that in mind like all honda products. The weight of it though is just too much I feel, having had a 320 kg bike already which was very difficult to maneuver in slight inclines. I am glad you are wrapt.
Great review, i have a ctx1300 for over a year, i bought it new with 1 mile on it, now it have 4000, yesterday i was cleaning it and the bike was in the center stand, when i was cleaning the front tire i noticed a back and forth play and i though it was coming from the fork bearings but actually is coming from the tubes and i dont know if the bushings are bad or this is normal, do you noticed the same play?
Automatic is only the accepted norm for north america....... so yeah most of us want manual just like our cars. Totally get why some people would want auto though
I was talking to the repair service manager at the local Honda dealer in my neck of the woods (Michigan), I own the only CTX1300 they have ever seen actually running and owned in that shop. They had one to sell, but it sat there for years on the showroom floor and never sold. He told me a bit more about the story of the motorcycle, at least from what he heard when he went to Honda USA headquarters for training. The story goes that Honda wanted a replacement/update for the ST1300 as it was getting long in the tooth as they say. Honda wanted to try and come up with a new refresh for their sport touring product much like the ST1100 to ST1300 update, but they knew they wanted to keep the V-4 longitudinal design. Well the guy they put in charge of the redesign tried to design the product by committee and customer focus groups mostly in the USA where Cruisers are king, not in Europe where the ST1100 and ST1300 was so well loved. Then the committee tried midstream to cash in on the Bagger trend of the early 2010's. They were so busy trying to design and come up with a whole new motorcycle and redefine a market segment rather than the original goal of a refresh that it took significantly longer than anticipated. The R&D budget never went into engine or innovation of the actual motorcycle internals. Cost over runs for the team caused Honda to shut down the project and salvage what they could out of the disaster. Everything is solid and well made, but nothing is new or exciting about it. All the tech in the bike is from early 2000 a full decade before it premiered, or stolen from other Honda products. It shares many style queues from the new Goldwing that was in development at that time. That is the CTX1300, a "mini Goldwing" with a Sport touring engine slaved into a touring cruiser body and mated into a bagger made as cheaply as possible to try to recoup the huge R&D losses they suffered. They were not looking for a huge profit margin, they were looking for a way out of the hole they dug. Is it any wonder it sold so poorly and Honda abandoned it as soon as possible. It was DOA.
Thank you for sharing this, yes you can tell by looking at the bike closely and riding it that something just isn't right. Fit and finish isn't there, it's not a typical Honda product that we have grown to love.
Great review. I currently own a Kawasaki Concours (my 2nd)...and I'm looking for an upgrade. I want either this bike or a BMW R1200CLC (ugly bike but I like them).
It's an upgrade from a Connie 1000, but if you have a Connie 1400 I would not consider the ctx1300 to be an upgrade. Thanks for watching! If you have any questions about the bike feel free to ask.
Just regular maintenance, I haven't had any problems with this bike. It's the same engine and trans as the ST1300 and I have seen those for sale with almost 200,000 miles on them and the owners say they still run good.
Good video. I want to buy one but I noticed the mirrors also. Can I ask hos tall you are? Im 5'10" and it seams the mirrors may be blocked 50% by my hand, but I have not drivien one. How is the power up large hills?
No, lol I'm scared to have to change the air filter as it's a lot of labor. Honda in all their wisdom buried the air box in the bike so lots of stuff has to come apart. I plan to do it next spring and I will replace it with a K&N at that time.
@John Braman: The only thing that K&N flows better is THE DIRT! I’m a mechanic, I cringe when I see K&N crap on a car/bike/truck! Use a clean tissue or paper towel and wipe out the air plenum between the air filter and the engine. With a stock filter you won’t see hardly any traces of dirt. Add a K&N and put 5,000 miles on your machine and wipe out the plenum, it will be oily and gritty from all the filter oil that came off the filter and THE DIRT the filter didn’t catch. Don’t be a sheep, K&N’s CAUSE ISSUES, they coat air flow sensors with an oil coating and cause MIL / Check Engine Defaults. Hold a K&N up against a bright flashlight and look how porous they are, dirt goes right through. K&N has burned a lot of people and if you complain to the company they’ll tell you you need to keep it oiled to work properly. Cleaning and re-oiling an air filter is a time wasting mess! If you like paying more and getting less, K&N products are for you!
I think a full face helmet would fit in the top trunk box, it is pretty big. I have never tried it because mine is always full of stuff. A helmet absolutely would not fit in side cases.
Automatic transmissions. Why do riders feel the need to fidget with thier feet and hands when riding. Only one DCT available in Aus, the Africa Twin, shame
Good honest review of a weird bike. I bought mine with very low miles like yours, however my bike is the deluxe model which I think makes a big difference. My dislikes are no gear indicator, clunky saddlebags, annoying water pump /engine sound, no cruise control, no platforms just pegs. My likes are comfortable ride, great brakes , decent power and stereo. I do like the seating position. I also got a good deal on mine used but you are absolutely correct 17.5k is a ripoff, so the bike failed. Oh well it's kinda nice having the only one around
I've got a DCT Crosstourer and it's really good. As long as you have enjoyed the CTX it doesn't really matter what everyone else is doing.
I just purchased a ctx 1300 and you are right the throttle is so touchy. It took me a minute to get use to it as well.
Best review of this bike that I've seen. Still on the fence on a purchase. There is a fully loaded, pristine one with 20K miles asking $7900.
did you get it I saw on cycletrader there's alot of options of these bags in the 7k-8k range
@@brandonbennett9271 Ha, no that one got snatched up pretty quickly. Not seeing much available in Cal now.
@@firesail6707 yeah I'm in Georgia theres alot in my surrounding states thinking of flying out and riding one back
enjoyed the video. Love my CTX and all I might add if you are shopping for one of these is to consider the Deluxe version as there are more Tech goodies like the self cancelling turn signals, bluetooth audio and the main reason I got the deluxe was for the linked ABS brakes. I won't buy another bike without ABS. Added cruise to mine and it's just darn near the perfect tourer for me.
Thanks Kyle Weber!
This is one of the best reviews I have seen on RUclips about the Honda CTX 1300. I had two Honda bikes and I think that you can’t go wrong with a Honda motorcycle or car.
Thanks for the feedback Omar! This is one of my first videos so they will greatly improve over time, but i'm glad you like it! I am a big fan of honda but even they make mistakes sometimes.
I paid $6500 for a new CTX plus tax and dealer markup. I really enjoy riding it.
I just bought a one used too. ‘14 CTX 1300 deluxe for 6.5k out the door. Low miles too. Great deal.
The CTX was put in play after Honda ditched the ST1300. Let’s be honest here, the CTX is the ST, they just removed 10% of the bike and gave it a new name. The term is called shrinkflation. Pretty soon it will be a stripped down moped.
I have the ctx700. I love its low reving engine (at age 40+ im past my race days) and its sound. Its very smooth. The ride is pretty good. Its balanced well. My wife and I max out its capacity so that is why I was looking at the 1300 but I really prefer lighter bikes. The main problem I have been chasing on the 700 is my helmet feeling like its in a paint shaker. It came with the honda tall windshield. Then I put an aftermarket taller one on and added an extension. Right now if I duck about 1 -2 inches its smooth (I'm 6ft tall) but otherwise it gives me a headache and can blurr your vision at 65. I've got a taller madstad coming in to try out so hopefully it works better. I can tell by your video the 1300 wouldn't work for me because of that high pitched whine that the engine makes. That would bug me. Thanks for the video!
I had that helmet shaking problem too, I tried a few things then finally got pissed off enough to buy the 1300. My wife got her class M and she rides the bike now, she says that her helmet doesn't shake and she's fine so she must be short enough so her head is below the turbulence. Hopefully your problem will be solved when you install the madstad shield, they are the best.
I ride the CTX 700n DCT, DCT is great.Easiest motorcycle I have ever owned, and I've owned a bunch in my day. Wish I would have got the fairing model. Running the tall Madstad now. Works pretty good for me. After my daughter graduated Nursing school, I decided to get another bike. Bought a cheap 83 cm450a. 2 speed semi auto trans. Just to get my feet wet . I like it, still have it. But thought I wanted something bigger, Friends with Gold Wings, said, "get a Wing and you'll love it". So I did. 97 GL1500 SE. Nice pretty machine. One problem, I just don't like riding it. Other than that , it's great. For sale now. Have now owned the CTX for over a year now. Think I'll be riding it for for a long while. So, that is my return journey back onto 2 wheels.
You get used to the high pitched whine. Heard it called the box of crickets once and I can't un-hear it now. It is not that annoying honestly.
There are some handlebar covers you can buy that will make the accelerator less sensitive, it is so sensitive because it is so small, which makes it difficult to control.
Oh yeah! aren't they called Grip Puppies? I always wanted to try a set. Thanks for reminding me!
Simply put , You bought it !
I have the 700 and i have been looking at the 1300 also. This will be my first summer touring on it so i have not formed that opinion about the 700 yet from that aspect. But thank you for the video, it shedded some light on my next bike.👍🏾
You're welcome, enjoy the ride!!
great honest review as the rest are saying. Great content, you should start getting demos from dealers and reviewing them too.
The Dual Clutch Transmission is also available on the NC 750X, NT 1100 and Rebel 1100.
i owned an st1300 which i loved but it was just a couple of inches too tall for me to handle at stops on uneven pavement and so i sold it. looking at the ctx1300 which i can flatfoot. one question, on long trips on hot days there was a ton of engine heat on me. does the ctx1300 have this issue as well? my st1300 was fixed with some modified goldwing air deflectors mounted in the right place to deflect air on to my legs and waist. i left them on the st when i sold it. the video was really good. there are surprisingly few ctx 1300 videos on RUclips. one i like sold his ctx because of a lack of after market fix up items. ride safely and stay healthy.
Yeah it radiates a lot of heat from the engine on a hot day.
@@kyleweber4543 Okay, I thought so but wanted to make sure. ride safely and thank you for the reply.
Great review. I’ve got the Deluxe up here in Toronto. Would like to get some crash bars and highway pegs for it. Not sure where to find them. The grip puppies are a great idea. Hopefully they won’t affect the heated grips. The top box and the fog lights are way too expensive for a bike that’s been discontinued. Contemplating the Corbin seat. Any idea why it has the high pitched whining sound? Just noticed the snow on the ground in your video. I had my heart set on a FjR but couldn’t afford it.
It's a good bike, enjoy it 🙂
From what I've read the whine is characteristic of the engine, especially at lower revs. I just tested and bought one and had the same question.
www.ctx1300forum.com/ to find the footpeg mounts and hard bag protectors
I think I met you on the road north of Princeton, you were going south on hwy 73 and I was going north. I have the same bike
hmm... I haven't rode that bike in over a year so unless it was 4 years ago or more it probably wasn't me. But thank you for watching!
I'm intrigued by this bike. Kinda like a mini Goldwing...
I'm curious if progressive front springs are available for this bike and how much they'd help the front end. ???
I'll keep doing my homework. Thanks for the video! I'm hoping to come across one of these for the right price.
I know that it is possible to have aftermarket adjustments made to the front forks to correct the issues, I'm not sure what the cost of that would be.
@@kyleweber4543
Progressive(the brand) makes front springs for just about anything. I put them in my shadow and they did wonders. Usually cost about $100 or so to purchase. I put them in myself. Not sure how difficult it would be on that bike.
I got the deluxe version, with all options, center stand etc... it's a beutiful modern looking bike.I bought it in 2016 used, for 10.000. I don't like the fact that there is no 6th gear and no cruise control. It's got plenty of power for me !.
I really enjoy my bike, most of that joy comes from not paying much for it and being able to ride it anywhere without worrying about it. I know that other people were able to add cruise control to their ctx1300, maybe that's something you could consider?
They're puting a DCT in the new 2024 CTX 1300. Unfortunately for me, they're not going to be available in Canada. :(
It is strange really that is doesn't have DCT or there was no DCT option with this model. It weighs about 60 kg heavier than my BMW 1150 GS , but has the same torque as the BMW but less power although both of these are lower in the rev range, with power peaking at 6000 rpm where as on the BMW it is 7500. It looks as though it would go for ever though, and I am sure it is designed with that in mind like all honda products. The weight of it though is just too much I feel, having had a 320 kg bike already which was very difficult to maneuver in slight inclines. I am glad you are wrapt.
Great review, i have a ctx1300 for over a year, i bought it new with 1 mile on it, now it have 4000, yesterday i was cleaning it and the bike was in the center stand, when i was cleaning the front tire i noticed a back and forth play and i though it was coming from the fork bearings but actually is coming from the tubes and i dont know if the bushings are bad or this is normal, do you noticed the same play?
No I never noticed anything like that before.
Great, honest review.
Great honest review, thanks.
Automatic is only the accepted norm for north america....... so yeah most of us want manual just like our cars. Totally get why some people would want auto though
I was talking to the repair service manager at the local Honda dealer in my neck of the woods (Michigan), I own the only CTX1300 they have ever seen actually running and owned in that shop. They had one to sell, but it sat there for years on the showroom floor and never sold. He told me a bit more about the story of the motorcycle, at least from what he heard when he went to Honda USA headquarters for training. The story goes that Honda wanted a replacement/update for the ST1300 as it was getting long in the tooth as they say. Honda wanted to try and come up with a new refresh for their sport touring product much like the ST1100 to ST1300 update, but they knew they wanted to keep the V-4 longitudinal design. Well the guy they put in charge of the redesign tried to design the product by committee and customer focus groups mostly in the USA where Cruisers are king, not in Europe where the ST1100 and ST1300 was so well loved. Then the committee tried midstream to cash in on the Bagger trend of the early 2010's. They were so busy trying to design and come up with a whole new motorcycle and redefine a market segment rather than the original goal of a refresh that it took significantly longer than anticipated. The R&D budget never went into engine or innovation of the actual motorcycle internals. Cost over runs for the team caused Honda to shut down the project and salvage what they could out of the disaster. Everything is solid and well made, but nothing is new or exciting about it. All the tech in the bike is from early 2000 a full decade before it premiered, or stolen from other Honda products. It shares many style queues from the new Goldwing that was in development at that time. That is the CTX1300, a "mini Goldwing" with a Sport touring engine slaved into a touring cruiser body and mated into a bagger made as cheaply as possible to try to recoup the huge R&D losses they suffered. They were not looking for a huge profit margin, they were looking for a way out of the hole they dug.
Is it any wonder it sold so poorly and Honda abandoned it as soon as possible. It was DOA.
Thank you for sharing this, yes you can tell by looking at the bike closely and riding it that something just isn't right. Fit and finish isn't there, it's not a typical Honda product that we have grown to love.
Did you ever feel it weighs too much?
Great review. I currently own a Kawasaki Concours (my 2nd)...and I'm looking for an upgrade. I want either this bike or a BMW R1200CLC (ugly bike but I like them).
It's an upgrade from a Connie 1000, but if you have a Connie 1400 I would not consider the ctx1300 to be an upgrade. Thanks for watching! If you have any questions about the bike feel free to ask.
@@kyleweber4543 It's a ZG1000 (my 2nd one of those). So yeah, it would be an upgrade. Getting tired of the Sport Touring ride position...lol.
how this been maintenance wise? any problems or just regular maintenance?
Just regular maintenance, I haven't had any problems with this bike. It's the same engine and trans as the ST1300 and I have seen those for sale with almost 200,000 miles on them and the owners say they still run good.
good to know, looking at a deluxe model now with only 4500 miles on it.
@@JohnBraman413 What price are they asking for the bike you are looking at? If you don't mind me asking...
6000
@@JohnBraman413 That seems like a good price, would be even better if it comes with the center stand, tall windshield, and top luggage trunk.
The 'Not Quite' A Gold-Wing
Good video. I want to buy one but I noticed the mirrors also. Can I ask hos tall you are? Im 5'10" and it seams the mirrors may be blocked 50% by my hand, but I have not drivien one. How is the power up large hills?
Plenty of power, engine spins 3,000 rpm at 55-60 mph. I am 5'11".
@@kyleweber4543 thank you😊
I have one and the mirrors could be better placed, but you can still use them just fine.
are you running a k&n air filter to see if it helps with mpg?
No, lol I'm scared to have to change the air filter as it's a lot of labor. Honda in all their wisdom buried the air box in the bike so lots of stuff has to come apart. I plan to do it next spring and I will replace it with a K&N at that time.
@John Braman: The only thing that K&N flows better is THE DIRT!
I’m a mechanic, I cringe when I see K&N crap on a car/bike/truck!
Use a clean tissue or paper towel and wipe out the air plenum between the air filter and the engine. With a stock filter you won’t see hardly any traces of dirt.
Add a K&N and put 5,000 miles on your machine and wipe out the plenum, it will be oily and gritty from all the filter oil that came off the filter and THE DIRT the filter didn’t catch. Don’t be a sheep, K&N’s CAUSE ISSUES, they coat air flow sensors with an oil coating and cause MIL / Check Engine Defaults. Hold a K&N up against a bright flashlight and look how porous they are, dirt goes right through. K&N has burned a lot of people and if you complain to the company they’ll tell you you need to keep it oiled to work properly. Cleaning and re-oiling an air filter is a time wasting mess! If you like paying more and getting less, K&N products are for you!
Kyle, ate coming out to the East Coast Meet Up the End of July???
Sorry bud, wife and I have vacation planned already so I will be working. Might make it east some other year!
@@kyleweber4543 copy that have a very enjoyable vacation!!!
It's OK. Automatic cars when they first came out didn't make a big splash either LOL.
What brand of seat do you have?
Has anyone upgraded the forks to a better one?
yes, I have heard of people modifying the forks and they say it fixes the issue.
can you fit a full size helmet in the luggage?
I think a full face helmet would fit in the top trunk box, it is pretty big. I have never tried it because mine is always full of stuff. A helmet absolutely would not fit in side cases.
Yes. I’ve had my CTX for 4 years.
Did you change the suspension to a softer ride .... I did and mine is so much smoother
What equipment did you use?
Automatic transmissions. Why do riders feel the need to fidget with thier feet and hands when riding. Only one DCT available in Aus, the Africa Twin, shame
Kyle rev it out
*are you.....
You camera has awful colors!
I didn't do any color correction in the editing software for this video, still learning.